Vancouversoccerman Posted March 3, 2006 Share Posted March 3, 2006 Hi all, The first of 4 open house public meetings on the Whitecaps Stadium is set to go on Monday, March 6 at the "W" room of the old Woodward's building (101 West Hastings Street). The open house starts at 2:00 PM and ends at 8:00 PM. For any of you who know Vancouver, you know that this meeting is being held in one of the most downtrodden areas of the city. However, it's also the first meeting, and possibly the only one the media will be attending. It's unlikely there's going to be a lot of smiling kids with soccer parents at this one, and there's a real danger that the opponents of the stadium will appear to be much greater in numbers than they really are. So please...if you live anywhere in the Lower Mainland and support the Whitecaps Stadium, please take the time to come out to this meeting to show your support. Thanks, Bill Currie billcurrie@telus.net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Franky Posted March 4, 2006 Share Posted March 4, 2006 good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vancouversoccerman Posted March 5, 2006 Author Share Posted March 5, 2006 Thanks, Franky. Support from Central Canada is just as important as local support. Which reminds me...just because you don't live in Vancouver or even BC, doesn't mean you can't participate. I think everyone here can agree that building Soccer Specific Stadiums helps make the game stronger across the entire country. I encourage everyone who doesn't live in the Lower Mainland to make a written submission in support of the stadium. If you'd like to make a written submission, you should address it to: Kevin McNaney,Planner, Central Area Planning, City of Vancouver #406 - 515 West 10th Avenue Vancouver, BC V5Z 4A8 kevin.mcnaney@vancouver.ca Thanks again, Bill Currie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Franky Posted March 5, 2006 Share Posted March 5, 2006 this is what we have been touting all along. soccer gains, whether from the private sector or government, must take advantage and overcome these obstacles. players benefit, local pro teams benefit, nataional squads from all levels benefit. soccer has always had strong support in Vancouver, the general consensus is that a stadia of that calibre is well deserved in Van-land. There is no doubt that Vancouver's soccer scene has always had the respect from the rest of canada. i been to van-land, almost remained there like many other torontonians. PS- sent a message to Kevin McNaney w/o hesitation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gian-Luca Posted March 7, 2006 Share Posted March 7, 2006 So....how did it go? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RealGooner Posted March 7, 2006 Share Posted March 7, 2006 I just sent a message to Mr McNaney also. I hope the stadium is approved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RealGooner Posted March 7, 2006 Share Posted March 7, 2006 Wow, Mr McNaney just emailed me right back asking for my address so he could include it in my submission. I encourage anyone else reading this to send an email right away to the eamil addy provided at the beginning of this thread. The more pro-stadium voices the better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vancouversoccerman Posted March 7, 2006 Author Share Posted March 7, 2006 The Open House on Monday was a casual, but very informative affair. The City has a very good display that outlines the schematics of the stadium and the neighbourhood. It addresses many questions such as trafiic flow, pedestrian congestion, noise levels, and sightlines from street level. There was a good mix of supporters and opponents, but the format of the open house allowed everyone to air their opinions in a non-confrontational way. There's also a very detailed questionnaire to fill out, so everyone can leave their opinion. It doesn't surprise me that Kevin McNaney replied to your e-mail right away. He, and the rest of the City staff, are very approachable and willing to listen to all viewpoints in the process. If you happen to go to one of the meetings, seek him out. I also encourage you to talk to the consultants who are putting together the report as well...Gary McDonald & Sheri Winowski represent the consulting firm at the open houses, and are especially attentive when hearing the arguments in favour of the stadium. That being said, two things are becoming clear: A.) There are a lot of misconceptions & preconceived notions that Whitecaps Soccer games attract the same type of audience as the Canucks & Lions. Many of the people involved in opposing the stadium or writing the report have never attended a Whitecaps game, so they don't understand that the games attract a broad cross-section of people from all cultures, genders, ages, and social backgrounds. In other words, the Whitecaps attract a crowd that's more representative of Vancouver. B.) The opponents of the stadium are making a deliberate effort to mislead people by focussing attention on the land just to the east of the site. Greg Kerfoot owns the land, and opponents are raising the spectre of another line of Yaletown-like condo developments along the Waterfront. They've even gone so far as to call it a "Mega-Project", suggesting that the current hearings is about the entire tract of land instead of the single stadium project. Other than the stadium, there hasn't been a single proposal or even speculation as to what will go up on the rest of the land. And when there is a proposal, it will go through the same type of public scrutiny the stadium is going through. I highly encourage everyone to attend the remaining Open Houses. It's vitally important that our silent majority make our voices heard. The next Open Houses are being held on: Tuesday, March 7, 3:00 pm - 8:00 pm Location: Storyeum Lobby, 142 Water Street Wednesday, March 8, 2:00 pm - 8:00 pm Location: Harbour Centre Lobby (Hastings Entrance), 555 West Hastings Street Saturday, March 11, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm Location: VPL, Central Branch Promenade, 350 West Georgia Street It's also worth noting that opponents from the Carnegie Community Action Project are holding their own public meeting: March 9, Carnegie Centre Main & Hastings 2PM - 4PM Once again, if you don't live in Vancouver, or can't make it to the meetings, you can send written comments to: Kevin McNaney, Planner, Central Area Planning, City of Vancouver #406 - 515 West 10th Avenue Vancouver, BC V5Z 4A8 kevin.mcnaney@vancouver.ca Thanks again! Bill Currie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gian-Luca Posted March 8, 2006 Share Posted March 8, 2006 quote:Originally posted by Vancouversoccerman A.) There are a lot of misconceptions & preconceived notions that Whitecaps Soccer games attract the same type of audience as the Canucks & Lions. Many of the people involved in opposing the stadium or writing the report have never attended a Whitecaps game, so they don't understand that the games attract a broad cross-section of people from all cultures, genders, ages, and social backgrounds. In other words, the Whitecaps attract a crowd that's more representative of Vancouver. This is going to be a tough argument to make though - its in effect saying 5,000 or so people is more representative of the city than the 18,000 to 30,000 that attends Canucks or Lions. So the much smaller sample is more representative than a much larger sample - and even if that can be shown to be the case, will that continue to be the case when the crowd doubles in size (or more) when the new stadium is filled. I don't agree with the anti-stadium views at all, just putting out the sort of argument they might make against this particular claim. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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